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Derek Kortschaga honoured as Citizen of the Year
By Ian Cobb/e-KNOW
A strong common thread linked the messages of all the speakers during the Jan. 23 celebration of Derek Kortschaga as Cranbrook’s Citizen of the Year.
Going above and beyond the call of duty.
Kortschaga, wearing a paper crown and seated next to his ‘date,’ a 60-pound first-aid training doll, was seated at the front of the Heritage Inn conference room, beside the dais where a variety of speakers endeavored to roast him.
The B-104 Total Country radio program director was nominated for the honour by fellow station employee Jason Caven.
“He’s not a guy who seeks the limelight,” Caven said.
“Thank you, you’re an idiot,” Kortschaga replied, clearly bracing for the onslaught cueing up behind Caven, who explained why he made the nomination.
“It was a warm summer evening and not this is not a romance,” he began, detailing how he first met Derek at the radio station 20 years ago.
“The first thing that struck me is what a great guy this is. He has done so much behind the scenes in the last 20 years.”
Caven described how the Ontario-born Kortschaga hasn’t been home for Christmas in that time.
“He works every Christmas so all our new and young staff can be home with their families. He goes above and beyond the call of duty,” Caven stated, detailing how Kortschaga uses airtime to promote a lengthy list of community causes, usually behind the scenes, and without fanfare serves “as the glue” keeping groups together to achieve their goals.
A self-confessed “army brat,” Kortschaga works tirelessly in promotion of the Royal Canadian Legion and its causes.
“Wow dude, they picked you!” Began Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 24 member and friend Rob Martin, who suggested there may be a pattern emerging in the Citizen of the Year selections, pointing out that the 2013 Citizen of the Year was Kortschaga’s friend and oft community-cause-supporting partner Kenny Bridge.
“Who’s next? (Steve) Mercandelli?” He asked, referring to the third corner in the community cause-backing triangle that is Kortschaga, Bridge and Mercandelli.
“Derek’s done a lot of giving over the years. It is his dedication to these issues that is what sets him apart. He is a true community leader,” Martin said.
The roast picked up in temperate then when Bridge, left arm wrapped in a sling, and Mercandelli got hold of the microphone.
“He’s been a great ambassador for many events that we volunteer him for,” Mercandelli said, noting how Kortschaga is always “volunteered” to help out.
“Hey Derek, guess what? You’re in!” Bridge said of the calls made to Derek, “and he always is.”
A recent contribution made by Derek to a cause was the Men with Cats calendar produced by the East Kootenay SPCA. In it, he is “Mr. October,” pointed out event co-hosts Jason Wheeldon and D’Arcy Kennedy. They then held an impromptu auction for some calendars, raising several hundred dollars in a few minutes. That was concluded by a duet of Little Kitty (from Big Bang Theory) and Smelly Cat (from Friends), a surreal twist that this writer wishes to the high heavens he had captured on video.
A special video presentation was also made by long-time co-worker Rod Schween and Pattison Broadcast Group executive.
Kootenay-Columbia MP David Wilks was on hand and he made a special presentation to Derek on behalf of the Government of Canada.
“Most of the people who accept these (awards) are very humble people and that is Derek,” Wilks said.
On behalf of the City of Cranbrook, Acting Mayor Wesly Graham also made a presentation to Derek.
“Without people like yourself our community would not be the community it is today,” he said.
Following the presentation of Citizen of the Year by newly installed Cranbrook Chamber of Commerce President Dave Struthers, it was Kortschaga’s turn to take to the mic.
“How do you try to block it out of your memory,” he said with his familiar voice of the roast before launching into his acceptance speech.
“I guess this is what it’s like to live in one community for more than a short time. I was a military brat growing up. At one point we moved 20 times in 17 years. We never really had roots, but no matter where we were – we were home.
“I’d like to start by saying that no person who stands here accepting this honour stands here alone. There is always a team or teams of people that work together towards common goals. I’d like to thank the different groups and event organizers that have allowed me to be a part a part of their events. They always thank me for helping them, but I do it for selfish reasons; I get great enjoyment from working with different people and causes, and, I continue to learn new things, weather it’s marketing, promotion, logistics, or even compassion, I get more than I give. I’m a selfish person and I thank you for the joys you give me. They stand with me here tonight.
“I’d like to thank the team at the radio stations, B-104 and The Drive. They free me-up so I can go and do those things that I enjoy so much. And they do it without recognition or applause, and they stand with me here tonight.
“I’d like to thank the many hundreds, if not thousands of volunteers who work tirelessly to organize and run our community events each year. There’s the MS Walk, The JDRF Walk, Sam Steele Days, The 4-H Show And Sale, The Car Show, The Kids Day in the park, and the list goes on and on. If we had to pay out those volunteer hours across Canada the total would be in the billions of dollars. Our country and our communities run on their energies, and they stand with me here tonight.
“The businesses that donate dollars, and product, and who even donate their staff, without their generosity and sacrifice most events wouldn’t happen, and many people wouldn’t be helped. And they stand with me here tonight.
“Speaking of businesses, I can’t name them all of course, but there are two business people I need to point out; my two good friends Steve Mercandelli of Cranbrook Dodge and Ken Bridge of Bridge Interiors. Not only do these two drive me and push me, but they volunteer me to do things. I got my legs waxed for charity, and stepped into a boxing ring for charity. Guys, thank you for pushing me, and you can stop anytime. But beyond that Kenny and Steve are perfect representatives of those caring businesses in our community. Sometimes you see what they’re doing when they are giving, but many times you just don’t see what’s being done to help behind the scenes, after the spotlight is gone. Those businesses and the people who make up those businesses stand with me here tonight.
“A night like this wouldn’t be complete if I didn’t thank my dad. He was a soldier. He followed orders. He gave orders. But the lesson he taught me was unspoken; take care of those who can’t take care of themselves. He never spoke those few words. But his actions wrote novels. He stands with me here tonight. We lost Mom when I was 18, but she stands with me here tonight.
“To my baby-sister, Kathleen, she’s taught me unconditional love. She has super-human strength when life demands it, and compassion at the flip of switch when necessary. It’s not surprising that she has all that and more, she’s a mom. And she stands here with me tonight.
“I’ve always said that I’d be in radio until I grew up and figured out what I wanted to be in life. On a night like this I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the names of three people, three gentleman, who would probably be surprised that I feel this way. You may already know them. Rod Schween, Rene Ross, and Jason Caven. These are three men who are professional, talented, intelligent, and have a passion for what they do, and that shows in everything they do. I’ve been in Cranbrook for 19 years now, and I’ve known these men the same amount of time, and everyday I strive to live up to the example they set. They honestly care about doing a good job, they want to make the community a better place, and they love their families. And they stand with me here tonight.
“I’m a selfish person. I take and take and take and I get honoured for it. I hope you allow me to be selfish for many more years to come. Thank You and goodnight.”
Photos by Carrie Schafer/e-KNOW
